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$25 packs one backpack.

Chapters

Students in seven cities, packing for their own towns.

Chapters are student organizations on college campuses. They pack and deliver locally. The national team funds and supports their distributions.

Map of Backpack Project chapters Chapters in Athens, Atlanta, Auburn, Columbia, Charleston, Durham, and Los Angeles. The list of chapter cards below has the same information. California AthensAtlantaAuburnColumbiaCharlestonDurhamLos Angeles Your school next?

Select a pin or a card to open that chapter's page.

All chapters

Pick a city.

Athens

Live

Athens

University of Georgia

Where The Backpack Project started in 2015. Besides backpack distributions, the Athens chapter brings hot meals and water to people living in encampments in Athens.

Chapter page
Atlanta

Live

Atlanta

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech students pack and deliver in Atlanta, home of our annual Homeless Heroes Day.

Chapter page
Columbia

Live

Columbia

University of South Carolina

Formed in August 2020, our first chapter outside Georgia. A University of South Carolina student organization that partners with local service providers in Columbia.

Chapter page
Durham

Live

Durham

Duke University

Duke students pack backpacks in Durham, North Carolina, and hand them to people. They also connect people to local homeless-service providers.

Chapter page
Charleston

Live

Charleston

College of Charleston

College of Charleston students building a chapter that packs and delivers essentials in Charleston.

Chapter page
Los Angeles

Live

Los Angeles

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical students at UCLA pack backpacks of essentials and health supplies for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

Chapter page
Auburn

Starting

Auburn

Auburn University

Auburn University students are starting a chapter the university already recognizes. They are still registering it with The Backpack Project, Inc. and looking for community partners.

Chapter page
Your school next?

Start a chapter

Tell us your school. We will write back about a first board and a community partner.

How it works

Start a chapter

Four steps from idea to first distribution.

Chapters get legal and tax help, insurance, accounting, the TBP name, training and fundraising materials, monthly check-ins, and funding to cover what they cannot raise.

  1. 1

    Form a board

    A president, a treasurer, and a few friends who will show up. Most schools also want a staff advisor.

  2. 2

    Find a partner

    A local shelter or outreach group that already knows the people you want to reach. We help with introductions.

  3. 3

    Raise $250

    That is 10 backpacks. A bake sale or one small sponsor covers it. National funds the rest of your first run.

  4. 4

    Volunteer together

    Pack with your partner, hand the bags out in person, and tell us how it went. Then do it again next month.

Tell us your schoolWhat national provides